Electrically-actuated switch mechanism



(No Model.)

W. S. BROWNE. ELEGTRIGALLY AGTUATED SWITCH MECHANISM. No. 593,889.

Patented Nov. 9,1897.

50'. mmoumo, WASHINGTON. ua UNITED STATES PATENT Genres.

WALRAM S. BROWNE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRlCALLY- -ACTUATED SWITCH MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,389, dated November 9, 1897.

Application filed June 8, 1897. Serial No. 639,854. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, lVALRAM S. BRowNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Electrically-Actuated Switch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The switches employed in thetracks of electrical railways have been actuated by electromagnets and the circuit connections for such magnets have been under the control of the motorman or car-driver to a greater or less extent, but they have in many instances required the exercise of more care and attention than the ordinary driver or motorman is always capable of giving, and for this reason the car is not always kept upon the straight track or turned off upon a branch track, as may be desired. I make use of an insulated conductor or contact adjacent to the main conductor of the trolley, whether such main conductor is suspended in the air or in a trench, and the adjacent contact is connected to an electromagnet by which the switch is moved, so that the trolley wheel or brush in its movement closes the branch circuit from the main conductor through the switch-magnet to energize the same, and I find it advantageous to use this device with a resistance in the circuit of the electromagnet, so that such circuit is of greater resistance than the circuit passing through the'car. I also provide an insulated section in the track and a branch circuit from the same to a second electromagnet that insures the main or straight track being maintained at every branch or returns the switch to the normal position for such straight track where it may have been turned for a branch, thus allowing the car to be run past a branch without any attention on the part of the motorman, his attention only being required when the switch is to be used for turning the car off upon a branch. In this case the current passes from the conductor through the trolley wheel or contact to the insulated section, and from there through an electromagnet that moves the switch in the opposite direction, and as these two electromagnets are opposed to each other and the preponderance of strength is in the magnet that keeps the switch in position for the main line or straight track it is only necessary for the magnets a resistance is introduced between the second magnet and the track, so as to equal the resistance of the magnetism in the car and insure the most powerful magnetism in the electromagnet that acts to'hold the switch in position for the main track.

In the drawings, Figure l is adiagrammatic plan view illustrating the present invention with an' elevated conductor and trolley-arm. Fig. 2 is a similar diagrammatic plan view illustrating the present invention with underground conductors. Fig. 3 is a cross-section in larger size, showing the conductor and the adjacent insulated contact. Fig. 4 is a section through the magnets and the switch, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the conductors and the insulated sections provided in the'underground circuit. v

The rails A A form the main or straight track, the rails B B the branch from the same, and the switch is shown at 0. These parts may be of any desired character, and in moving the switch I find it advantageous to em ploy the electromagnets D and E, having one core extending into the two helices and receiving end motion by the magnetism set up in the respective coils; and it is advantageous to use a tube G of brass or other non-magnetic material for supporting the coils and for forming a slide for the armature-core F, there being a slot in the tube G for the stud or bar I that passes up and acts upon the switch 0; and it is advantageous to provide a shield 0 upon the bar or stud I and above the longitudinal slot in the tube G to prevent moisture or any foreign substance passing into the tube G and obstructing the action of the armaturecore F.

The conductor or trolley-wire K is ofany desired character, and adjacent to the same is a contact plate or bar L, the latter being insulated by mica or other suitable material,

' and the conductor should be made sufficiently thin at this place for the flanges of the trolley-wheel N to pass one at each side freely, it being advantageous that the conductor and the contact-plate at this point should be divided vertically or split, so as to maintain substantial uniformity and continuity in the shape of the surfaces with which the trolleywheel comes into contact; and it will be observed that the trolley-wheel will close the circuit between the conductor K and the plate L as such trolley-wheel passes along in contact with these parts, and from the plate L a wire or conductor 3 is led to the magnet E, and the circuit is completed from the magnet E to one of the track-rails A through a resistance R, which is to be equal to or slightly greater than the average resistance of the electric mechanism in the car through which the current ordinarily passes in propelling such car. In the track A one or two insulated rails S are provided, and from these a conductor or wire 4 passes to the electromagnetD,and from there the circuit is closed by a wire 5 to one of the track-rails B.

As the car passes along the track in the direction indicated by the arrow 6 the current from the conductor K passes through the mechanism of the car to the rails A, and as soon as the wheels of the car reach the insulated rails S the current passes by the wire 4 through the magnet D and draws the switch 0 into line with theunain track A, or if it occupies that positi'onit simply holds it there and the car will pass along without any atten tion on the part of the motorman, because when the trolley-wheel N closes the circuit through the contact-plate L and magnet E the strength of the same is not sufficient to move the switch C and overcome the magnet D, because the resistance R is slightly greater than the resistance in the car and the magnet D is hence the strongest, but when the car is to be switched olf upon the branch track the motorman simply maintains sufficient momentum of the car to carry the same over the insulated rails S, and as he runs upon such rails S he turns off the-current or breaks the circuit passing through the mechanism of the car. Hence there cannot be a current to the magnet D and the power of the current is exerted through the contact-plate L and magnet E to move the switch G into the position for turning the car off upon the branch track B.

When the electric current is supplied by the underground conductors K K, the operations are the same as before described-that is to say, the brush or rubbing contacts N between the conductors K K coming into contact with the insulated rail section S causes the current to pass from K through N and through the motor of the car, and by S the circuit is closed to the magnet D and the switch moved or held to the main line and the car can travel upon the straight track, but if the motorman cuts off the current through the motor of the car the magnet D is demagnetized and the current passes through K and L to the magnet E, moving the switch for turning the car off upon the branch track 13, as before described.

It is to be borne in mind that the rubbing contact or brush at N is to be wide enough to close the circuit between the conductor K and the insulated contact-plate L as the car passes along upon the track, so that the current will pass directly from the conductor K through L by one brush of the contact N and to the magnet E for moving the switch 0 and opening the track to the branch or turnout. In both cases the driver or motorman has simply to break the car-circuit, so as to prevent the current passing through the motor of the car when the car is to be switched off on the branch, the car running by its momentum for the short distance necessary for the trolley to pass by the contactplate L or L with the car-circuit broken and the current passing directly through the trolley from K to L or L and thence to the switch-magnet E.

I have illustrated a convenient arrangement of tracks and switch, but do not limit myself in this particular, as the present improvements may be applied with various forms of switches and with either elevated or underground conductors of any desired character.

I claim as my invention- 7 1. The combination with the track-switch, of two electromagnets for moving such switch into line with the main track or with a branch or turnout, an insulated rail and circuit connections for directing the current passing through the motor of the car to one of the electromagnets for moving the switch in one direction, an insulated contact and circuit connections to the other electromagnet for closing the electric circuit from the conductor through the trolley wheel or brush for moving the switch in the other direction when the current through the car-motor is interrupted, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the tracks and switch, of two helices surrounding a tube of brass or other non-magnetic material, a core adapted to sliding freely endwise within such tube according to which of the helices may be energized, a stud attached to the core and passing through a slot in the surrounding tube and connectedwith the switch, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the tracks and switch, of two helices surrounding a tube of brass or other non-magnetic material, a core adapted to sliding freely endwise within such tube according to which of the helices may be energized, a stud attached to the core and passing through a slot in the surrounding tube and connected with the switch, and a shield around the stud and covering the slot in the tube, substantially as set forth.

at. The combination in an electric switch apparatus and with the track-switch, of two electromagnets acting in opposite directions for moving the switch, a circuit connection for one of the electromagnets passing through the motor of the car, a circuit connection for the other of the electromagnets passing from the main conductor through the trolley wheel or brush, and a resistance in such circuit so that the magnet is of less energy than the 10 one in the circuit containing; the motor of the car, so that the second magnet ordinarily will not move the switch, but such switch will be moved by the second magnet when the current passing through the car-motor is interrupted, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 3d clay of June, 1897. VVALRAM S. BROWNE. Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, S. T. HAVILAND. 

